potsgirl Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hello my Friends~I've been struggling recently with a change in my sleep patterns. Since I became ill, I've never been able to stay up late - maybe 8:00 or so. In the last couple of months, especially since I've developed a chronic pain condition and have added one Percocet (5 mg) dailly, I get incredibly sleepy around the time the medication wears off, which is about 6 pm. I know the chronic pain is also taking a toll on my energy, but I've been heading upstairs to bed between 4 - 6 at night! I read for an hour and I'm out. Of course, this means I'm waking up at 4 am or so, totally out-of-sync with everyone else. I know I should probably try to force myself to stay up later, but bam! It's like I hit a wall and then I start to feel really sick if I don't go lie down and sleep.Anybody else? Ideas? HELP!!Jana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iheartcats Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 My sleep schedule has always been off a bit but POTS made it worse.I tend to start staying up later and later and getting up later and later. I can still thankfully get by on 6-8 hours sleep (probably because I used to be ok on 5-7)? They say everyone's is different.Anyway. When I notice I'm getting way off (3am - 11am) I take an Ambien to reset myself. Seems to help and might have to do it for a couple of nights.This is a Godsend when I'm working, helpful still when I'm not. I'm a tad concerned my new docs won't prescribe Ambien (sigh...like I need more anxiety) but I never go through more than 30 in six months. I don't know why some DRs are so particular about things like Ambien when one clearly uses it occasionally as needed and it's very beneficial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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